A New Risk in AI Projects: The Model Keeps Changing
GPT-4 in 2023, Claude 3 in 2024, Claude 4 series in 2025 — the large language models (LLMs) underlying AI projects are typically replaced every 6 to 12 months, with older versions gradually deprecated. OpenAI phased out its GPT-3.5 family roughly 18 months after release, and Anthropic has done the same with its Claude 1 and 2 series.
The problem is that most AI outsourcing contracts say nothing about this. Traditional SI/SM (system integration/system maintenance) agreements only specify operational SLAs like "respond within 4 hours during an outage" or "fix bugs within one week" — but leave a complete gap around who handles a model swap, when, and at what cost. As a result, many clients only learn about a deprecation notice after the fact, then scramble for a new quote, facing 4 to 8 weeks of delay and unplanned costs.
The 4 SLA Categories Becoming Standard in 2026
To address this risk, 2026 AI outsourcing contracts are increasingly splitting SLAs into four distinct categories:
Without these four items written into the contract, service quality can silently degrade the moment a model changes, with no one accountable.
Why Traditional SI/SM Contracts Fall Short
The traditional SI (one-time build) / SM (ongoing maintenance) split worked fine for standard web and app services, but it breaks down for AI services. Once an SI project ships on a specific model version, that model gets treated as a "fixed asset." In reality, within 6 to 12 months that model may fall behind newer releases, face a pricing change, or be discontinued entirely.
Each time this happens, the client has to go through a new quote request, negotiation, and contract amendment — a process that typically adds 3 to 6 weeks of decision delay. Meanwhile, competitors who adopt the newer model first (often gaining 15-20% better response accuracy) can pull ahead in the market.
How Subscription-Based Development Solves This
POLYGLOTSOFT's subscription-based development resolves this structural problem within a single monthly contract. Model upgrades, prompt optimization, and test set revalidation are included as standing services within the flat monthly fee — no separate quote required.
A dedicated development team continuously monitors LLM providers' release notes and deprecation notices, responding immediately according to the four SLA categories above. When a model swap becomes necessary, migration proceeds within the agreed SLA without renegotiating the contract, so clients always run on current model performance without cost uncertainty or response delays.
A Checklist for Decision-Makers Reviewing AI Outsourcing Contracts
Before signing an AI outsourcing contract, confirm that it explicitly addresses:
Without these five items, the client absorbs all the risk the moment the underlying model changes.
Run AI Without Model-Change Risk, With POLYGLOTSOFT
POLYGLOTSOFT's subscription-based development service, starting at ₩290,000/month, gives you a dedicated development team that manages model upgrades, prompt optimization, and test set revalidation under clear SLA terms — continuously. You keep 100% ownership of your source code, with no need to renegotiate a new quote every time the underlying model changes. Submit your PRD today and get a free prototype within 24 hours.